Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. Just because a NT doesn't 2 gap doesn't mean he's not a true NT, that's all down to preference of scheme by the coach. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. Its where the defender lines up head-to-head with the offensive center. Curly Clip is, undoubtedly, the flag bearer for the best nose tackles of all time. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. The 0-technique is generally played in the 3-4 defensive scheme, which is why its largely a nose tackle technique. Most of Ratliff's reputation is built on his pass rushing ability. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He frequently drives blockers backwards and is a consistent threat to penetrate the line of scrimmage. Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. As with any list there is room for debate here and there but he's ranked about right.Let me guess, you are a Steeler's fan? His tremendous upper body strength and relentless motor help Sopoaga to constantly move the pocket. The players Hey there! 1. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. NFL Tackles Career Leaders (since 1994) - Pro-Football-Reference.com Charlie Johnson had a short career in the NFL, but he still managed to cement his preposition among the best nose tackles of all time in NFL history. The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. This is where the defensive player lines up on the inside shoulder of the offensive guard. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. A Complete Overview. Here is a ranking ofthe 10 best nose tackles in the game today. John Banaszak: Born in rival city Cleveland, Ohio, John Banaszak played in Pittsburgh's final three Super Bowls of the 1970s starting in Super Bowls XIII and XIV. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? The most common requirement of a nose tackle is to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the rest of the defense. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? The number one requirement of a nose tackle is to take on and occupy blockers. 8. Well, a player needs to have the mentality to sacrifice himself for the teams achievement. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. I'm assuming that we're talking about a true NT as in 2 gap players. The third-year pro has the power, leverage and quickness to threaten the pocket on every play. Johnson played just eight years but they were mostly good some, some even very great. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. Bullshitter. After getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, Michael Carter remained unmoved throughout his pro football career. List of Famous Football Nose Tackles - Ranker John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? Joe Klecko (89%, 59 Votes) Kris Jenkins (8%, 5 Votes) Jason Ferguson (3%, 2 Votes) Sione Pouha (0%, 0 Votes) Abdul Salaam (0%, 0 Votes). Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time - NFL.com His 61 tackles for loss or no gain against the run over that span rank third among defensive linemen, behind only Brandon Graham and Jadeveon Clowney. After his stellar 1980 season, coaches from opposing teams would fly to Buffalo to watch how Smerlas played in the middle of the Bill defense and exported the style to their own 3-4 teams. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. Louis Rams, 1976-1995 Voted to seven Pro Bowls First player to play 20 seasons for one team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, St. Louis Rams, 1997-2008; Chicago Bears, 2009 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One-time Super Bowl champion Started 154 consecutive games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1967-1979 Voted to six Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times Two-time Super Bowl champion Started in six NFC Championship Games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears, 1936-1946 Three-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Yanks, 1951; Cleveland Browns, 1954-1962 Voted to six Pro Bowls Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 2007-2016 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times Has started all 160 games he has played in the NFL, Green Bay Packers, 1956-1970; Dallas Cowboys, 1971 Started on eight NFL championship teams Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1968-1981; Los Angeles Rams, 1982 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro six times First O-lineman to be selected No. They silently contribute and help their team to win. But his place went to a division rival who doesn't benefit from quite as strong a supporting cast around him. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. He was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler (all when playing as 1/2 of the "Williams Wall" in Minnesota. Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. His power and ferocity at the point of attack make him virtually impossible to handle one on one. The Top Five New York Jets Defensive Tackles of All-Time - The Jet Press He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Nose Tackle: A Comprehensive Guide to the Football Position He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. He was a First-team All-Pro in 1986-88 and was Second-team in 1985 when he had 7 sacks (he had 6.5 in 1988) and was a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". The one season he filled in for an injured 3-tech (Keith Millard) he did will, recording 8.5 sacks and 7.5 stuffs and 82 tackles. Rogers started his career hot, playing shade most often in a 40 defense, and was playing lots of plays (36.5 run stuffs in his first four seasons) and then went to his "All-Pro-type" years from 2004-08 when he was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler. Its generally reserved for the defensive end and theyre responsible for both the B-gap (in-between the guard and tackle) and C-gap (on the outside of the tackle). link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? A nose tackle, also known as the nose guard or middle guard, is a player that aligns themselves in the middle of the defensive line. Though he played as a run stuffer in the later part of his career, he is mostly known for his role as a nose tackle. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season Thomas played in 213 games, started 199 of them, totaled 864 tackles including 93.5 sacks and 95.0 run stuffs, totals that rival players like Warren Sapp and Bryant Young, two of the 1990s All-Decade selections. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. It's tough to find true nose tackles. Whether youre playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme or 4-3 defensive scheme, two defensive ends line up by the offensive tackle. If youre a football player, you must understand what a defensive technique is. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. 25. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Chicago Bears, 1985-1993; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993-1994 One-time Super Bowl champion Recorded 29.5 sacks in 138 NFL games, Oakland Raiders, 1996; New Orleans Saints, 1997-2001; Dallas Cowboys, 2002-2005; St. Louis Rams 2006-2008 Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 2000s All-Decade Team 2000 NFC Defensive Player of the Year 2000 NFL sacks leader (17.5) Finished career with 433 tackles, 83.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles, San Francisco 49ers, 1994-2007 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Had 89.5 sacks and 618 tackles in 208 career games, Cleveland Browns, 1946-1953 One-time NFL champion Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1940s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Ravens, 2006-2014; Detroit Lions, 2015-Present One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Started 160 of 162 NFL games Has 29.5 sacks, 491 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions in 11 NFL seasons, Baltimore Ravens, 2013-Present One of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in NFL today Became highest-paid nose tackle in the NFl by signing a five-year, $54 million deal with Ravens in March Has 4.5 sacks and 101 tackles in 55 career games, Cincinnati Bengals, 1983-1994 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time Recorded 34.5 sacks and 1,017 career tackles Missed only four games (out of 192) in 12-year career, Detroit Lions, 1958-1970 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1960s All-Decade Team Missed only one game in 12-year career, New England Patriots, 2001-2008; Oakland Raiders, 2009-2012 Three-time Super Bowl champion Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Logged 57.5 sacks and recorded 496 career tackles, Minnesota Vikings, 1985-1990; Green Bay Packers, 1992; Seattle Seahawks, 1992; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1989 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Holds NFL record for most sacks by DT in single season (18) Three double-digit sack seasons Recorded 58 career sacks, Houston Oilers, 1985-1995; Dallas Cowboys, 1996 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL-record three fumble recoveries in single game Recorded 76.5 sacks, 861 tackles, and 19 forced fumbles in 12-year NFL career, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1950-1963 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to nine Pro Bowls (1957 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro once NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team Recorded 23 fumble recoveries and at time of retirement was the all-time career safeties leader with three Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, San Francisco 49ers, 1950-1963 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team 49ers' first-ever draft pick Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Colts, 1950; New York Yanks, 1951; Dallas Texans, 1952; Baltimore Colts, 1953-1961 Two-time NFLchampion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 1957-1958; Green Bay Packers, 1959-1969 Two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls (1961 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro five times 21 career fumble recoveries Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears 1979-1990 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Made All-Pro as both defensive end and defensive tackle Officially credited with 57 career sacks Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Jets, 1977-1987; Indianapolis Colts, 1989 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1981 AFC Player of the Year Started 145 of 155 NFL games 24 career sacks, 9 fumble recoveries in 10 NFL seasons Anthony Munoz called Klecko "the strongest guy I ever faced. These savvy veterans and youngsters such as Knighton, Cleveland Browns rookie Phillip Taylor and Arizona Cardinals youth Dan Williams, are collectively ensuring the nose tackle remains very relevant. They rank up there with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Red Sox, and all the other teams to win several championships since the turn of the century. The NFL's top 11 interior defensive linemen - Touchdown Wire His penetration causes havoc in the running game and makes hima credible danger to the quarterback. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. With Sopoaga over the center, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are always kept clean and remain free to chase plays down. Domato Peko is the fulcrum of the Cincinnati Bengals aggressive 4-3 defense. 11. The creative direction of Super Bowl LVII was inspired by the beauty of Arizona's natural landscapes - from its grand rock formations to its vast rainbow skies. One name that might get overlooked among some of the best defensive tackles all-time is the former Baltimore Ravens great Haloti Ngata. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. Tom LaMarre. And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. Take a look at how they stack. Sometimes even experts fail to recognize talent. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine!